Electrically operated switch mechanism



July 4, 1939. A. G. KERSHAW ET AL ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SWITCH MECHANISM Filed July 3, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Kerr/20w.

THEIR Gttorncg July 4, 1939. A. e. KERSHAW ET AL ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SWITCH MECHANISM Filed July 3, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 llll'lllllllll PII 4 3nventors THEIR dttomcg 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 lnvcntm's dim-neg THEIR July 4, 1939. A. G. KERSHAW El AL ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SWITCH MECHANISM Filed July 5, 1937 Patented July 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SWITCH mCHANISM Arthur Greenwood Kershaw and Norman Green- Application July 3, 1937, Serial England, assignors, by

In Great Britain August 26, 1936 12 Claims.

moved from one operative position to another by the action of an operating electro-magnet or electro-magnets and has for its object to provide improved mechanism of this character.

According to the principal feature of the invention the mechanical connection through which the efiort exerted by the electro-magnet or electro-magnets is transmitted to the contact-actuating member to efiect the movement of this member is so constructed that upon this movement being completed the member is positively locked against movement in the opposite direction, this locking being only released by the reverse operation of the electro-magnet or electro-magnets acting through the mechanical connection above referred to.

The locking of the simple and effective manner.

In order that the invention may be readily understood an electrically operated circuit conthe invention Will now be derespectively, of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawings, the electrically operated circuit controller comprises a contactcarrying member I mounted upon a pivoted shaft 2 adapted to be rocked from one to the other of two positions in which the contacts 3 engage with corresponding sets of fixed contacts 4, arranged, as clearly shown in Figure 4, radially around the shaft 2.

Mounted upon and secured to one end of the shaft 2 is a rocking arm 5 provided With a driving and locking head 6 having mutually inclined fiat faces merging into fiat faces parallel to the plane containing the axis of rotation of the shaft 2. A pair of electro-magnets 1, 8 of the solenoid type are arranged side by side adjacent to that end of the shaft 2 carrying the rocking arm 5,

the axes of these solenoids I, 8 being arranged one on each side of the rocking arm 5 and parallel to the axis of the shaft 2. The solenoids of the electro-magnets are provided with axially movable core plungers 9, I 0 respectively, the ends of these plungers being pivotally connected at I I and I2 respectively to a rocking lever I3 adapted to rotate about a fixed pivot I4 intermediate the Pivotally mounted ward the head 6, and are respectively pivotally connected at I9, 29 to the left hand ends of suitable adjustable links 2I, 22 the other ends of which are pivotally connected at 23, 24 to opposite ends of the rocking lever I3. It will be ob- 1 gage with the adjacent faces of the driving head 6 in the following manner.

The core plunger 9 of the electro-magnet -1 being in its inner position as a result of the ensponding face of this movement has been displaced to its extreme responding position.

The mechanical connection between the core 9 of the electro-magnet 'i and on the operating arm, occupies a position in which its line of contact .11, I8 of the arms I5, I6, the roller 25 abutting against a suitable stop 21 formed on the head 5. It will thus be quently the rocking towards the pivot passed slightly and the shaft arm 15 remains shown in Figure 3.

The other operati chanical connection of the rockin out of engagemen inclined at an angle thereto Figure 3. Wheni carrying membe electro-magnet spending core p position, ther placement of sitely inclined positio During this movem the operating ment with the the latter, while driving head 6, arm, engages wi B, the edges of which are moves the head towards the ment of the head 6 efiects arm 5 a correspondin shaft 2 to its new pos movement of the opera latter into a posit described with arm if), so that carrying member i, the new position The movement of the conta her I to its ori efiected in a similar of the electro-magne that continued energiza nets l, S, is not require rying member l its operative p0 locked until the corr eiiecting movement ergized.

As shown in the parts of 'th positions intermedi which the contacts the left 0 mediate pos broken, and in 2 shall be brought in the event 0 ment in either dir and 5) is secured and exte secured in the has The invention is cular construe described, by wa varied in many respec scope of the invention.

Having now particula tained the nat what manner declare that what we c l. Electrically op comprising" a pivote rockable between two ing arm secured with a driving an eluding two opera one end on opposi parti eyond its dead-c 2 is thus locked,

in the position 1 ng arm i6 owin at 24 with the 0 l3, has rotat r i into its opposi 8 is energized and the lunger It] is moved efiecting a corresp the rocking 1 driving head ference to th the driving hea are now pos ginal position a manner, by the en t l, and it will be un the drawings, e e circuit contro ate their en 3 engage with con ition of the shaft 2,

order to ensure to this position au ection, a spring to the shaft 2 b recess 3%} in a memb 3i, plane of the axes of the pivots of said arms.

the controller.

y not limited, t th comprising a pivoted contact carrying member tion, nd arrangeynent, above rockable between two extreme positions, a rockple, which may be ts without exce 13 our said i the same is to be performe switch mechanism d contact carrying member extreme positions, a rock- 1 member d provided ing one end projecting toward said head, rollers d means i secured to said arms and cooperating with the 11 t d t flat faces of said head, means for simultaneously te sides of id h d d h rotating said arms in opposite directions to the (1 locking head, ting arms pivo' shaft 2, cannot be displaced provided at the other end with a roller which wing to the arm l5 having cooperates with said head for rocking said mementer position, ber between its two extreme positions.

s the 2. Electrically operated switch mechanism comn which it is prising a pivoted contact carrying member rockable between two positions, and means includg to its meing two rollers secured to pivoted operating arms ther end and cooperating with a driving and locking head ed to a position mounted on a rocking arm secured to said memng head 6, and ber for rocking said member between its two as clearly shown in positions.

to set the contact- 3. Electrically operated switch mechanism. te position, the comprising a pivoted contact carrying member correrockable between two extreme positions, a rockto its inner ing arm secured to one end of said member and onding disprovided with a driving head having mutually ever 13 to its oppoinclined fiat faces merging into flat faces parallel to the plane containing the axis of rotation ent of the rocking lever 13, of said member, two operating arms one pivoted s moved out of engage at each side of the driving and locking head 6, thereby unlocking for rotation about axes extending at right angles 5 moves towards the to the axis of rotation of said member and each 26 carried on this lying in a plane extending at right angles to the f the head general plane of said head and having one end slightly bevelled, and projecting toward said head, rollers secured to pivot IT. This movesaid arms and cooperating with the fiat faces through the rocking of said head, and means for simultaneously ront of the rocking tating said arms in opposite directions between ition, and the final stage of two extreme positions to rotate said member to ting arm 16, brings the one or the other of its extreme positions dependponding to that above ing upon the extreme positions to which said arms e other operating are rotated.

d 6 and contact- 4. Electrically operated switch mechanism itively locked in comprising a pivoted contact carrying member rockable between two extreme positions, a rocki ct-carrying meming arm secured to one end of said member and bove described, is provided with a driving head having mutually ergization inclined flat faces merging into flat faces parderstood allel to the plane containing the axis of rotation tion of the electro-magof said member, two operating arms one pivoted d after the contact-carat each side of the driving and locking head for t into one or other of rotation about axes extending at right angles to sitions in which it is positively the axis of rotation of said member and each lectro-magnet for lying in a plane extending at right angles to the to the other position is engeneral plane of said head and having one end projecting toward said head, rollers secured to xcept in Figure 3, said arms and cooperating with the flat faces of ller are shown in said head, and means for simultaneously rotatd positions in ing said arms in opposite directions to the relatacts i to tive positions in which the one roller is out of i ht (Figure l). In the interengagement with said head and the other roller all contacts are is engaging said head at a line of contact which that the shaft is slightly past the plane of the axes of the pivots tomatically, of said arms or to the relative positions in which to complete its movesaid other roller is out of engagement with said 28 (Figures 2 head and said one roller is engaging said head y memb r 29 at a line of contact which is slightly past the 5. Electrically operated switch mechanism ing arm secured to one end of said member and ing mutually inclined flat faces merging into fiat faces parallel to the plane containing the axis of rotation of said member, two operating arms one pivoted at each side of the driving and looking head for rotation about axes extending at right angles to the axis of rotation of said member and each lying in a plane extending at right angles to the general plane of said head and havrelative positions in which the one roller is out of engagement with said head and the other roller is engaging said head at a line of contact which is slightly past the plane of the axes of the pivots of said arms or to the relative positions in which said other roller is out of engagement with said head and said one roller is engaging said head at a line oi contact which is slightly past the plane of the axes of the pivots of said arms, and a stop secured to said head in a position to engage said one or said other roller when such roller is rotated to the position in which its line of contact with said head is past the plane of the axes of the pivots of said arms.

6. Electrically operated switch mechanism comprising a pivoted contact carrying member rockable between two extreme positions, a rocking arm secured to said member and provided with a driving and locking head, and means including two operating arms pivotally mounted at one end on opposite sides of said head and each provided at the other end with a roller which cooperates with said head for rocking said member between its two extreme positions and for locking said member in whichever extreme position to which it is moved.

7. Electrically operated switch mechanism comprising a pivoted contact carrying member rockable between two extreme positions, a rocking arm secured to said member and provided with a driving and locking head, means including two operating arms pivotally mounted at one end on opposite sides of said head and each provided at the other end with a roller which cooperates with said head, and means for simultaneously rotating said operating arms in opposite directions between two extreme positions to rotate said member to one or the other of its two extreme positions.

8. Electrically operated switch mechanism comprising a pivoted contact carrying member rockable between two extreme positions, a rocking arm secured to said member and provided with a driving and locking head, two operating arms pivotally mounted on opposite sides of said head and each extending toward said head and provided at the end nearest said head with a roller which cooperates with said head to rotate said member to one or the other of its extreme positions, and means including a solenoid for operating said arms.

9. Electrically operated switch mechanism comprising a pivoted contact carrying member rockable between two extreme positions, a rocking arm secured to said member and provided with a driving and locking head, two operating arms pivotally mounted on opposite sides of said head and each extending toward said head and provided at the end nearest said head with a roller which cooperates with said head, means including a first solenoid for simultaneously rotating said arms in opposite directions to one relative position to cause the roller on the one operating arm to engage said head and rotate said member to one extreme position, and means including a second solenoid for simultaneously rotating said arms in opposite directions to another relative position to cause the roller on the other operating arm to engage said head and rotate said member to its other extreme position.

10. Electrically operated switch mechanism comprising a pivoted contact carrying member movable between an intermendiate position in which all the contacts carried thereby are open and one or the other of two extreme positions and biased to its intermediate position, a rocking arm secured to said member and provided with a driving and locking head, and means including two operating arms pivotally mounted at one end on opposite sides of said head and each provided at the other end with a roller which cooperates with said head for rocking said member between its two extreme positions.

1]. Electrically operated switch mechanism comprising a pivoted contact carrying member rockable between two extreme positions, a rocking arm secured to one end of said member and provided with a driving head having mutually inclined fiat faces merging into flat faces parallel to the plane containing the axis of rotation of said member, two solenoids provided with plungers and arranged side by side adjacent to that end of said member to which said rocking arm is secured, a rocking lever pivoted intermediate said solenoids and pivotally connected on opposite sides of its pivotal axis with said plungers, two operating arms one pivoted at each side of said head for rotation about axes extending at right angles to the axis of rotation of said member and each lying in a plane extending at right angles to the general plane of said head and having one end projecting toward said head, rollers secured to said arms and cooperating with the flat faces of said head, and links pivotally connecting said rocking lever with said two operating arms respectively.

12. Electrically operated switch mechanism comprising a pivoted contact carrying member rockable between two extreme positions. a rocking arm secured to one end of said member and provided with a driving head having mutually inclined fiat faces merging into fiat faces parallel to the plane containing the axis of rotation of said member, two solenoids provided with plungers and arranged side by side adjacent to that end of said member to which said rocking arm is se cured, a rocking lever pivoted intermediate said solenoids and pivotally connected on opposite sides of its pivotal axis with said plungers, two operating arms one pivoted at each side of said head for rotation about axes extending at right angles to the axis of rotation of said member and each lying in a plane extending at right angles to the general plane of said head and having one end projecting toward said head, rollers secured to said arms and cooperating with the flat faces of said head, and slotted links pivotally connecting said rocking lever with said two operating arms respectively.

ARTHUR GREENWOOD KERSHAW. NORMAN GREENWOOD KERSI-IAW. 

